Seesaw rocker



FIG.

July 17, 1962 T. H. cox 3,44,773

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July 17, 1962 T. H. cox 3,044,773

FIG. 3.

INVEN TOR. 7'H0e4LD H co xl BYJ TT'OENE YS.

Patented July 17,- 1962 dice 3,044,773 SEESAW ROCKER Thorald H. Cox,Odgen, Utah (Hooper, Utah) Filed Sept. 1S, 1959, Ser. No. 840,872 3Claims. (Cl. 272-56) The present invention is related to rocker typeseesaws and is more particularly concerned with an lamusement andexercising rocker for a plurality of participants.

The'principal object of the invention is to provide a readily moveablerocker to be operated by users positioned at opposite ends thereof withprovision for the safety of `such users and means for slowing the endrocking motion of the rocker for preventing the possible upsetting ofthe riders.

A further and equally important object of the invention is to provide aseesaw rocker that can be used on relatively soft surfaces such as theground orv grass as well as harder surfaces, can be intentionallyinverted for use as an exercising and yamusement device for beingclimbed over by a number of persons, can be entered safely fromunderneath as Well as the sides and ends when upright in a rockingposition and will not tip over sideways even with a considerable numberof persons climbing on one side thereof. j

A still further important object is to provide ya rocker for a largenumber of persons at each v.end `as well as the center of the rocker anda rocker of considerable structural strength for supporting a group ofusers at one time as well as having a long life under rough handling.

Further, objects of the invention will be in part obvious and in partpointed out in the following detailed description of the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. l is a perspective view of the present device.

FiG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the rocker.

FIG.` 3 is a longitudinal sectioned view of the rocker.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail section of the runner and toe guard railforming a part of the present device taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

And FIG. 5 is a side View of the device in its inverted position for useby climbers thereon.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like andcorresponding parts are given similar reference characters, numeral 1indicates an arcuate rocker, while numeral 2 indicates a second andsimilar arcuate rocker extending substantially parallel to, but spacedapart from rocker 1. A rod 3 has the opposite ends of rocker 1 connectedthereto 'by welding or the like, While a similar rod 4 has the oppositeends of rocker 2 connected to end portions thereof. Rods 3 and 4 alsoare substantially parallel to one another and spaced apart a distanceequal to that of the spacing `between said rockers.

A series of spokes 5 extend between and are connected to said rockers 1and rod 3. These spokes are of an appropriate length for extending fromrod 3 to the rocker and are also connected to these members fby Weldingor other conventional means. Similar spokes 6 extend between and`connect rocker 2 with rod 4 and are joined to these members also bywelding or the like.

An arcuate foot guard rail 7 having a curve similar to rocker 1 but of asmaller radius is connected at one side, also by welding to spokes 5,adjacent but slightly spaced above rocker 1. A similar foot guard rail 8is connected at one edge to spokes 6 adjacent but spaced above rocker 2.Rail 8 is also of la slightly smaller diameter curve than rocker 2. Bothrails 7 and 3 are formed from elongated rectangular metal plates havinga roughened upper surface providing both p-rotection against the rockers1 and 2 running over a foot adjacent said rockers and also a step andcat walk for persons mounting the present device.

An arcuate runner 9 yis connected at one end to rocker 1 and'to rod 3 atits opposite end, being spaced from the end portion of lrocker 1. Asimilar runner 10 is connected to the opposite endof rocker 1 and rod 3While further similar runners 11 and 12 are connected tothe oppositeends of rocker 2 and rod 4.

Spokes 13 extend between the corresponding rockersl and 2 and therunners 9, 10, 11 and 12 spacing the runners from the rockers andsupporting the same in that position.

A seat 14 is attached to the corresponding end portion of rods 3 and 4by rivets 15, for example, while a similar seat 16 is attached to thecorresponding opposite ends of said rods 3 and 4 by rivets 17. Thus,these seats extend crosswise of rods 3 andv 4 at the opposite endportions thereof. y

An upright 13 is connected at `one en'd torod 4,- -while a similarupright 19 is connected to rod 3. A hand hold 20 connects the upper endsof uprights 18 and 19, while a cross bar 21 connects said uprights attheir middle portion and brace 22 reinforces said uprights. Saiduprights and hand hold are positioned in front of 4seat 14 for beinggrasped by persons seated on said seat. o

A second hand hold 23 is positioned in iront of seat 16 for a similarpurpose and is supported by uprights 24 and 25 mounted on rods 4 and 3,respectively. Said uprights 24 and 25 are also connected to their medialportion by a cross bar 26 and further supported 4by braces 27. A handhold 28 is supported by uprights 29 and 30 upon a medial portion of rods4 and 3, While a further hand hold 31, likewise is supported on anopposite medial portion of said rods by uprights 32 and 33.

A bar 34 is connected to spokes 6, while Ia similar bar 35 is connectedto spokes 4. A foot rest 36 for persons seated on seat 14 extend betweensaid bars 34 and 35, while a rail 37 extends between said bars and isconnected thereto directly beneath hand rail 28.

A bar 38 is also connected to spokes 6 at the opposite end of rod 4while a bar 39 is connected to spokes 5 at the opposite end of rod 3. Afoot rail 40 is xedly mounted on 'bars 38 and 39 `beneath hand rail 23for persons seatedon seat 16. Rail 41 is lixedly mounted 0n bars 38 and39 beneath hand rail 31.

A Ibar 42 is connected to the lower ends of spokes 5, while a bar 43 isconnected to the lower ends of spokesV 6, with both bars supporting astep 44. Similar jbar 45 is connected to the lower ends of spokes 5,while a bar 46 is connected to the lower ends of spokes 6 supporting astep 47 between said bars. `A further bar 48 is connected to a centralportion of spokes 5, while a similar bar is connected to a centralportion of spoke 6 and a combination seat and platform 50 is connectedto and extends between said bars; Risers 51 and 52 connects steps 44 and47 to platform 50. Hand rail 28, guard rail 37 and the free edge of step44 extends substantially in the same plane, while hand rail 31, guardrail 41-and the free edge of step 47 are likewise substantially in thesame plane. tends between 'and connects rod 4 with rocker 1, while asimilar member 54 also extends diagonally from rod 4 to rocker 1,imparting rigidity to the present device. Brace 55 extends from rocker 1to `foot rail 36, While brace 56 extends from said foot rail 36 torocker 2. Likewise, lbrace 57 connects rocker 1 with foot rail 40, Whilebrace 58 connects rocker 2 with foot rail 40.

A foot guard plate 60 is connected to spokes 6 and spokes 13 adjacentrunner 12, while foot guard plate 61 is connected to spokes 5 and spokes13y of runner 10. A foot guard plate 62 is connected to spoke 6 andspokes 13 of runner 11, while `foot guard plate 63 is connected tospokes 6 `and spokes 13 of runner 9. These foot guard plates are spacedslightly above .the adjacent runner for A` diagonally supporting member53 ex-V 3 protecting the feet of riders seated on seats 14 and 16adjacent these runners.

To use the present seesaw rocker, the same is positioned with runners 1and 2 upon an appropriate supporting surface and riders can then climbonto seats 14 and 16 by way of foot guards 7 and 8, or by climbingunderneath. The riders then by placing their feet upon rails 36 and 40and grasping hand rails 20 and 23, can impart a rocking motion with theseats 14 and 16 alternating in an up and down motion in the manner of aseesaw. However, as the runners 1 and 2 approach the supporting surfaceat the seat end 14 thereof, runners 9 and 11 will engage supportingsurface providing a slightly rising motion to seat 16 and gradually slowdown the rocker motion of the device preventing riders from being joltedfrom the seats. Similarly, when seat 16 moves downwardly, the runners 10and 12 will engage the supporting surface imparting a gradual liftingmotion to seat 14, which likewise slows down the rocking motion andprevents a sudden jolting stop to the seesaw action.

Additional rides can stand or sit on platform 50 or steps 44 and 47being retained by bars 37 and 41 and hand rails 28 and 31. These ridersalso assist in imparting the rocking motion to the present device andlikewise are amused thereby.

The present seesaw rocker cannot be tipped over when even a number ofpersons stand, for example, on foot guard 7 and pull on the rod 3.However, the entire device can be intentionally inverted by beingproperly lifted and turned over until the rocker assumes the position ofFIGURE 5. At such time hand rails 20 and 23 which are equal `distancefrom rods 3 and 4 due to supports 18, 19, 24 land 25 being of the samelength and extending perpendicular from said rods will support theentire device so that same can be climbed by individuals -as anamusement and also for exercise, and the steps 44 and 47 as well asseats 14 and 16 can be used as seats for the climbers. To again employthe device as a seesaw rocker, it should be reinverted to the positionof FIG- URES 1 to 3 inclusive.

Rockers 1 and 2, as best shown in FIGURE 4, are provided by relativelywide step plates having spokes 5 and 6 riveted thereto so that presentrocker can be employed upon a soft supporting surface. Foot guard 7 forexample, is connected to spokes 6 at one edge by welding 64 while theupper face of said foot guards have protuberances 65 to prevent theslipping of persons wall;- ing thereon.

The present invention is capable of considerable modiiication and suchchanges thereto as come Within the scope of the appended claims isdeemed to be a part thereof.

'I claim:

1. A seesaw rocker comprising a pair of arcuate ground rockers, meansspacing said rockers apart and maintaining said rockers parallel to oneanother, a pair of straight rods each extending longitudinally of one ofsaid rockers with the ends of the rocker connected thereto, the endportions of each of said rods extending beyond their respective rocker,rider supporting members mounted on the extended end portions of saidrods, handholds adjacent said members connecting said rods spacing thesame apart in substantially parallel relationship, and curved runnerseach connected at one end to an end portion of one of said rockers andextending longitudinally thereof, but spaced therefrom and at its otherend to an extended end of the rod connected to its respective rocker.

2. A seesaw rocker as claimed in claim 1, wherein said handholds areU-shaped cross bars fixedly mounted on and extending laterally of andfrom said rods on a side thereof opposite said rockers providinghandholds for riders and supports for the rocker when inverted with saidcross bars positioned on a supporting surface.

3. A seesaw rocker as claimed in claim 1, wherein a platform havingsteps at each side thereof is supported between medial portions of saidrods and rockers providing a standing support for riders when saidrockers are on a supporting surface and seats when the rocker isinverted.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS516,368 Davis Mar. 13, 1894 915,793 Parameter Mar. 23, 1909 1,431,214Burgess Oct. 10, 1922 1,589,443 Taylor s June 22, 1926 1,599,014 HunterSept. 7, 1926 2,768,828 Pack Oct. 30, 1956 2,907,570 Horowitz Oct. 6,1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 131,103 Australia Ian. 24, 1949 OTHER REFERENCESPlaythings, November 1958, volume 56, No. 11, page 73 cited.

